factual

What are the limitations on operating the franchised business within the territory granted by Craters & Freighters?

Craters_Freighters Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

of this Agreement, "Affiliate" means any person or entity that controls, is controlled by, or is in common control with, Franchisor or Franchisee.

  • 1.3 Operation of Franchised Business Limited to Territory. Franchisee agrees to devote its best efforts to identifying, attracting, and serving customers who reside or operate within the Territory. Therefore, except as otherwise permitted herein or as approved in advance and in writing by Franchisor, Franchisee will solicit business only in the Territory for the purpose of obtaining customers who reside or operate within the Territory, and Franchisee will not knowingly solicit business outside of the Territory. However, Franchisee is not required to verify that customers to the Franchised Business reside or conduct business within the Territory. Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that Franchisor, an Affiliate of Franchisor, or designee of Franchisor, as part of Franchisor's business strategy, may advertise or market on behalf of the System in the Territory. Franchisee agrees to abide by Franchisor's then current policies on marketing outside the Territory, if any, and on cooperating with neighboring Craters & Freighters franchisees, as the same may be set forth from time to time in the Operations Manuals. Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that customers residing or operating within the Territory are entitled the freedom to choose any Craters & Freighters outlet which they believe will best serve them and their needs, and that they may seek service of the type provided by Franchisee from others, including another Craters & Freighters outlet located outside of Franchisee's Territory. Franchisee further acknowledges and agrees that advertising promotions conducted by third parties upon request by Franchisor may inadvertently refer customers residing or operating within the Territory to a Craters & Freighters outlet outside of the Territory.
  • 1.4 Servicing in Unsold Adjacent Territories. Franchisor may grant Franchisee the right, in Franchisor's sole determination, to promote and advertise the Franchised Business to customers, or to service customers, in an unsold territory adjacent to the Territory ("Adjacent Territory"). Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that it is obligated to pay Royalty Fees to Franchisor, in accordance with Section 3.2 of this Agreement, on all Adjusted Gross Sales (as hereafter defined) from customers residing or operating within the Territory and any Adjacent Territory. Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that neither the ability to service nor the grant of Franchisor's permission to service customers residing or operating in any Adjacent Territory affords Franchisee any right, title, or interest in or to such Adjacent Territory whatsoever, including the ability to do further business in the Adjacent Territory after it is granted to a third party (including any right to acquire such Adjacent Territory or any right of first refusal as to such Adjacent Territory). If the right to operate in the Adjacent Territory is subsequently granted by Franchisor to another Craters & Freighters franchisee through the sale of a franchise, Franchisee agrees to, upon receipt of written notice from Franchisor, cease all promotional and advertising efforts within the Adjacent Territory, return to Franchisor all customer data and prospect information related to the Adjacent Territory, and cease providing products and services to customers in the Adjacent Territory. Franchisee will use its best efforts to comply with Franchisor's requirements set forth herein, but Franchisor and Franchisee acknowledge and agree that customers residing or operating within the Adjacent Territory are entitled the freedom to choose any Craters & Freighters outlet which they believe will best serve them and their needs, and that they may seek service from Franchisee.
  • 1.5 Non-Exclusivity; Franchisor's Reservation of Rights. Franchisee acknowledges that the franchise granted hereunder is non-exclusive and that Franchisor and its Affiliates retain the exclusive right, among others to:

  • 1.5.1 Own, franchise, or operate Craters & Freighters outlets at any location outside of the Territory, regardless of the proximity to the boundaries of the Territory; provided, however, Franchisor will not establish within the Territory another franchisee or company-owned outlet which may also use the Marks;
  • 1.5.2 Use the Marks and System to sell any products or services similar to those which Franchisee will sell, through any alternate channels of distribution within or outside of the Territory, including to National Accounts (as defined below). This includes, but is not limited to, other channels of distribution such as television, mail order, catalog sales, wholesale to unrelated retail outlets, or over the Internet. Franchisor exclusively reserves alternative channels of distribution such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing or other direct marketing, as channels of distribution for Franchisor. Franchisee may not independently use alternative channels of distribution to make sales within or outside the Territory without Franchisor's prior written approval;
  • 1.5.3 Use and license the use of other proprietary and non-proprietary marks or methods which are not the same as or are confusingly similar to the Marks, whether in alternative channels of distribution or in the operation of a business offering shipping, packaging, crating, receiving and delivery, storage, transportation, moving, logistics, blanket wrap, and freight forwarding services and products, at any location, including within the Territory, which may be similar to or different from Franchisee's Franchised Business;
  • 1.5.4 Purchase or be purchased by, or merge or combine with, any business, including a business that competes directly with Franchisee's Franchised Business, wherever located, so long as such business does not operate under the same or similar trademarks or service mark;
  • 1.5.5 Acquire and convert to the system operated by Franchisor any businesses offering shipping, packaging, crating, receiving and delivery, storage, transportation, moving, logistics, blanket wrap, and freight forwarding services and products, including such businesses operated by competitors or otherwise operated independently or as part of, or in association with, any other system or chain, whether franchised or corporately owned and whether located inside or outside of the Territory; and
  • 1.5.6 Implement multi-area marketing programs, including but not limited to a National Accounts program.
  • 1.6 Best Efforts. Franchisee agrees to at all times faithfully, honestly, and diligently perform Franchisee's obligations hereunder and to exert Franchisee's best efforts to promote, develop, and expand the business of the Franchised Business.

2. TERM OF AGREEMENT.

  • 2.1 Initial Term.

Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 49–50)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Craters & Freighters' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must focus their efforts on attracting and serving customers within their designated territory. While franchisees are expected to solicit business primarily within their territory to gain customers who reside or operate there, they aren't obligated to verify that every customer is located within the territory. Craters & Freighters, its affiliates, or designees may also market within the franchisee's territory as part of their business strategy. Franchisees must follow Craters & Freighters' marketing policies for areas outside their territory and cooperate with neighboring franchisees. Customers have the freedom to choose any Craters & Freighters outlet, even those outside the franchisee's territory.

Craters & Freighters may grant a franchisee the right to promote and service customers in an unsold territory adjacent to their own, called an "Adjacent Territory." If a franchisee is granted the right to operate in an Adjacent Territory, they must pay royalty fees to Craters & Freighters on all adjusted gross sales from customers in both their primary territory and the Adjacent Territory. However, this right doesn't give the franchisee any lasting claim to the Adjacent Territory. If Craters & Freighters later awards that Adjacent Territory to another franchisee, the original franchisee must cease all promotional activities there, return customer data, and stop providing services in that area.

The Craters & Freighters franchise is non-exclusive, meaning Craters & Freighters retains certain rights. These include the right to operate or franchise other Craters & Freighters outlets outside the franchisee's territory, regardless of proximity, and to sell similar products or services through other channels, including to National Accounts, both within and outside the territory. Craters & Freighters will not establish another franchisee or company-owned outlet within the Territory. The franchisor has developed a National Accounts Program, and the franchisee is required to service the National Account according to the terms and conditions established in the corresponding National Account agreement. If the franchisee fails or refuses to service the National Account in accordance with such terms and conditions, Craters & Freighters reserves the right to perform the requested services or assign the work to other franchisees, outside third-party vendors, or an Affiliate of Craters & Freighters.

These stipulations mean that while a Craters & Freighters franchisee is granted a specific territory, their rights are not absolute. Craters & Freighters retains considerable flexibility to operate and market within and around that territory, and the franchisee must be prepared to cooperate with these activities. The non-exclusive nature of the franchise and the potential for competition from other channels, including National Accounts, are important factors for a prospective franchisee to consider. The franchisee's obligation to service National Accounts under the terms dictated by Craters & Freighters also impacts their operational control and revenue potential.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.